In the text that I have chosen for the devotional for today we see the
names of the present-day nations, or at least a portion of the list of
nations, that will align themselves against the Jewish State of Israel.

This passage is a "foretelling" of the military action that will happen
in the Middle East in the first three months of the coming "Tribulation
Period", the seven years of judgment on this Earth in the future.

The "battle of Gog and Magog" is what the prophet is discussing with us
in this passage. It is an "alignment of nations" that will come to
Israel to destroy the Jewish State. In this passage we not only see the
"who" and the "when", but we also see the "what", that which happens
during the coming seven-year period of judgment known as the
"Tribulation".

In verse 2, "Magog" is modern-day Russia, "Meshech and Tubal" along with "Gomer and Togarmah", in verse 6 is present-day Turkey. "Persia" in verse 5 is
Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The other two names, "Ethiopia and
Libya", are also nations that will join the "alignment" to attack
Israel.

These nations make up the "who" in this passage. The "when" is revealed to us in two verses, verses 8 and 11.
These verses speak of the time when the Jewish people come back into
the land in the last days and are "dwelling safely" in the land. They
also will be living in "unwalled villages".

Both terms are referring to a time when there is "peace" in the land. It
will not be the time when Jesus has brought "peace" but a time of a
"pseudo-peace" one that will be a "short-lived" peace. This "peace"
comes when the Antichrist has established a "peace" in the land, which
is in the very beginning of the Tribulation.

The "what" is the unfolding of the war to destroy the Jewish people and
take the "land" that God has given the Jews. As these nations attack
Israel, God intercedes, verses 18 to 23. Couple this with the verses found in Ezekiel 39, verses 1 to 6, and you come to an understanding that the Lord protects His "Chosen People".

Verse 2,
of Ezekiel 39, indicates that 5 out of every 6 Muslims will be
destroyed at this battle. This actually renders inoperative the entire
Muslim world. This has to be done so that the "one world religion" can
be set up in Rome, Italy. Islam will not co-exist with any other
religion, thus it must be removed.

This passage in Ezekiel 38 and 39 helps
us to understand why the nations of the Middle East and the Islamic
world hate the Jews and want to destroy the Jewish State. These nations
will continue to do what they can to eliminate Israel until this
prophecy is fulfilled.

However, the "Battle of Gog and Magog" will not come to pass until after
the Rapture of the Church. The Rapture happens just before the
appearance of the Antichrist with his "peace treaty".

As we look at our world today it is evident that we are quickly
approaching the days described in our devotional passage for today. That
means that the Rapture must be very near, "perhaps today".

PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for the understanding of Bible prophecy for the last days. It
helps me to recognize where I am on Your time clock. Help me to live
expecting You to come today.